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Religious Left Forms 'Circle of Protection' Around Big Government

"The faith that unites these groups seems to be in perpetually expanding big government." -- Mark Tooley, IRD President

Contact: Jeff Walton, Institute on Religion and Democracy, 202-682-4131, 202-413-5639 cell, jwalton@TheIRD.org 

WASHINGTON, April 26, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- Fretting that the 2012 budget will restrain the growth of favorite federal programs, Religious Left officials are joining forces to call for a "Circle of Protection" to fight budget cuts.

The coalition of religious groups includes Evangelical Left figures like Sojourners' chief Jim Wallis alongside liberal Mainline Protestant groups such as the Episcopal Church, the United Church of Christ, the National Council of Churches and some Evangelical groups such as the Evangelical Covenant Church and the Church of the Nazarene.

Organizers have arranged for a Wednesday morning teleconference to announce the coalition and speak about their opposition to proposed cuts in the upcoming budget.

IRD President Mark Tooley commented:

    "Religious Left groups joined forces in the past to oppose reforms in federal spending, most notably the successful 1996 welfare reform law, which they incorrectly prophesied would doom America's poor.

    "Infuriated by modest cuts to the 2011 budget, Religious Left officials are digging in against any restraint on their favored federal programs.

    "The faith that unites these groups seems to be in perpetually expanding Big Government. That this false idol will deliver endless debt and reduced economic opportunity without helping the poor does not seem to distress these self-proclaimed 'prophetic' voices.

    "Claiming that children are perilously endangered by even modest restrictions on federal growth, Religious Left officials seem unconcerned about the mountains of debt and potential crushing taxation passed along to these very same children.

    "Were the professed constituencies of these groups polled on budget matters? Once again, this political campaign appears to be a top-down effort engineered by denominational elites who did not bother to check with their own people in the pews."

The Institute on Religion & Democracy works to reaffirm the church's biblical and historical teachings, strengthen and reform its role in public life, protect religious freedom, and renew democracy at home and abroad.

www.TheIRD.org